November 12th, 1941 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Destroyer HMS Ulster laid down.
FRANCE: Nimes: General Huntziger, the Vichy war minister, was killed 50 miles north of here today, in a plane accident. He was returning from a mission to North Africa, to consult General Weygand on a possible German bid to use French North Africa.
Though Huntziger signed the armistice with the Germans in June last year, he was a staunch defender of French interests against German encroachment and the strongest opponent of Laval's efforts to open French ports to Germany.
FINLAND: Finland again rejects the U.S. suggestions that she make peace with the Soviet Union.
U.S.S.R.: At Orsha senior German commanders are shown the plans for the continuing attacks on Moscow. Three Panzer groups and three infantry armies will participate.
The Red Army uses its ski troops in combat for the first time in the Great Patriotic War today. (Patrick Holscher)
Germans sink cruiser Chervona Ukraina, the only one lost by Soviets in World War Two.
Winter comes to the Russian Front. The highest temperature measured by the Germans is 5F (-15C).
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-331 left Salamis with eight members of a special service team on board for the African front in Tobruk.
The British aircraft carriers HMS Argus (D 49) and Ark Royal (91) fly off 37 Hurricanes to Malta. The two carriers are escort by Force H, formed by battleship HMS Malaya (010, light cruiser HMS Hermione (74) and seven destroyers.
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Ville de Quebec (ex-HMCS Quebec) laid down Quebec City, Province of Quebec.
U.S.A.: Minesweepers USS Pursuit and Requisite laid down.
In California, 15 Japanese-American businessmen and community leaders in Los Angeles Little Tokyo are picked up in an F.B.I. raid. Records and membership lists for such organizations as the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and the Central Japanese Association are seized. The 15 would cooperate with authorities, while a spokesman for the Central Japanese Association states: "We teach the fundamental principles of America and the high ideals of American democracy. We want to live here in peace and harmony. Our people are 100% loyal to America."
ATLANTIC OCEAN: USN destroyer USS Decatur (DD-341), screening convoy HX-159 (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to U.K.), twice depth charges sound contacts that are later evaluated as "non-submarine." Destroyer USS Badger (DD-126), depth charges sound contact that is later evaluated as perhaps Decatur's wake. Coast Guard gunboat USCGC Campbell (WPG-32) reports sound contact and conducts search; she is joined by destroyer USS Livermore (DD-429).